The Belgian Shepherd Dog Malinois was developed in Malines, Belgium in the Middle Ages as a herding and working dog. Its direct ancestors were thought to be local shepherd dogs. The breed is sometimes classified as a variety of the Belgian Shepherd rather than as a separate breed unto itself.
In the United States, the breed is recognized under the name Belgian Malinois. Imported Belgian Malinois usually originate from Belgium, France or Switzerland. Adolphe Reul, a Professor in the Belgian School of Veterinary Sciences, was instrumental in the establishment of the official breed standard.
The Malinois was imported into the United States during two specific time periods. The first time was in 1911 and the second was between the years 1963 and 1965. During the second period, the population of the Malinois grew significantly. The breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1959 under the name Belgian Malinois.
